Poor Nigerians suffering from decades of low productivity, not my reforms – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has attributed the hardships faced by millions of Nigerians to decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, and limited opportunities, rather than to his administration's economic reforms. Speaking in his Independence Day remembrance speech, Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians continue to struggle with basic necessities like food, school fees, medical bills, and transportation.

He emphasized that these challenges existed before the reforms implemented by his administration over the past three years. Tinubu stated, "Their circumstances did not begin with the reforms of the last three years. Their struggle is the accumulated consequence of decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient opportunity and institutions that too often failed those who needed them most."

Despite his administration's efforts to reposition the Nigerian economy, including removing fuel subsidies and altering the foreign exchange system, Tinubu acknowledged that erasing the accumulated generational challenges would be difficult. However, he expressed optimism that with continued efforts, the course of the economy could be changed, ensuring that those who remain vulnerable are not abandoned.